c.Cause them to lose the ability to have the time or focus on serving Christ and His people?

7)What kinds of things can happen to God’s servants to discourage them?

Anger and Unforgiveness

8)Read Ephesians 4:27. This verse says to not be angry and to not give the devil a foothold. How can anger get our focus off of Christ and His kingdom, and thereby giving Satan a foothold?

9)2 Corinthians 2:11 speaks heavily of forgiveness as it relates to galvanizing a church against the schemes of Satan. Why is forgiveness so critical to a healthy church?

a.Why does Satan’s schemes seek to create attitudes of unforgiveness amongst God’s people? What does this produce amongst God’s people?

b.If we see an attitude of unforgiveness, how should we address it?

Divide and Conquer

10)Read Jude 16. This verse lists several attitudes that hinder the work of God. What do these attitudes look like and how do they hinder God’s work?

a.Grumblers & fault finders

b.Following after their own lusts (e.g. desires, opinions)

c.Speaking arrogantly

d.Flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage

11)Read 1 Timothy 5:19. This verse says to not receive an accusation against an elder unless there are two or more witnesses. Timothy was a godly church leader; why would Paul need to warn him about receiving accusations about other leaders?

a.How does that relate to the steps of reconciliation given by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17?

b.If Timothy were to receive every accusation against an elder, without this requirement of 2 or 3 witnesses, what would likely happen to that leader or ministry?

12)Absalom at the City Gates – 2 Samuel 15:1-12

a.Satan rarely uses a crackpot to cause disunity. Who was Absalom? What was he like?

b.In verse 2, what was Absalom doing? Why did he rise early?

c.How did Absalom’s counsel create a seed of doubt in the minds of others? What impact did that have on David’s ability to minister? (c.f. verse 6) Why?

d.What response, or lack of response, did we see in David and the rest of the leaders? How did their silence contribute to the problem?

i.Who should they have talked to?

ii.What should they have said?

13)What principles can we glean for maintaining unity when people start creating an “us/them” or “divide and conquer” approach to the leadership?

a._________________________________________________________________

b._________________________________________________________________

c._________________________________________________________________

Confusion and Disorder

14)Paul and the Fortune Telling Slave - Acts 16:14-22

d.How was God working in verses 14-15?

e.What was the slave girl doing in verse 17? What effect did this have?

f.How much of what she saying was untrue?

i.How can saying “accurate” information sometimes be harmful?

g.When Paul commanded the spirit to leave her, in verse 18, how was it viewed in the community?

i.Why can the “right” response appear wrong to some people?

h.This fortune-telling slave created a situation that could not be resolved cleanly. How was this effective in undermining the ministry of Paul?

15)What principles can we glean for maintaining unity when Satan creates confusion and disorder?

a._________________________________________________________________

b._________________________________________________________________

c._________________________________________________________________

Conclusion

16)2 Corinthians 4:7–12 “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.”

a.In verse 7, what is at stake in Paul’s ministry?

b.When Paul is not crushed, not despairing, etc. is that because Satan has given up his assault against Paul? If not, why is Paul strong in the face of such trials?

c.Why does Paul talk about “we”? How can we help one another when facing these kinds of trials in our ministries?